Tree-lighting kicks off Christmas festivities

Tuesday

Nov 14, 2017 at 9:00 AM

By Shawn Hardy

The Greencastle-Antrim community will get in the Christmas spirit this weekend. The tree-light ceremony Friday evening and the Christmas parade Saturday morning are the start of the season-long celebration that continues with Heritage Christmas in December.

The Christmas tree, donated by the Pettner family of Mason-Dixon Road, went up on Center Square Monday. The annual tree lighting ceremony, sponsored by Herald-Mail Media, is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 17, at 7 p.m. in Center Square. The program includes the town crier, Todd Streett, the Greencastle Christmas Quartet and holiday music by the Greencastle-Antrim High School Band under the direction of Robert Bennett. The evening will include traditional carols along with the ringing of Christmas bells, provided by Antrim Way Honda. The Greencastle Exchange Club, Coldwell Banker Residential and BB&T Bank will be on the square offering complimentary hot chocolate, popcorn and hot apple cider.

The lights on the tree include Lights of Love, sponsored by Blaise Alexander Chevrolet of Greencastle, and the names of those honored will be on display in the window of the building owned by Off-Center Properties on antique scrolls.

Organized by VerStandig Broadcasting, the parade begins at 9:21 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 18, with a route along East Baltimore and South Carlisle streets.

Located in the northwest corner of the Square, the Holiday House will be open for business during the tree-lighting, and parade selling tickets for the horse and wagon rides (Dec. 1, 8 and 15), the Greencastle Home Tour (Dec. 10) and the 2017 Christmas ornament.

The celebration continues on Nov. 25 with Shop Small Saturday featuring gift ideas at merchants throughout town. Hand Made at the High Line holiday craft show will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the train station, where gifts purchased at Shop Small Saturday will be wrapped for free.

Greencastle’s 27th annual Heritage Christmas celebration will be held from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. the first three Fridays in December — Dec. 1, 8 and 15 — with activities centered around the Square.

New this year are more activities for children, a display of antique sleighs at the Life Center on North Carlisle Street the first Friday night of the event, an open house all three nights at the High Line Train Station and the addition of a barbecue vendor, according to Georgina Cranston, executive director of the Greencastle-Antrim Chamber of Commerce.

“Christmas is magical for everyone, especially for children so this year we have extra activities for kids,” she said.

Returning favorites include the Light It Up home decorating contest in Greencastle and Antrim Township, horse and wagon rides, Santa Claus and seasonal entertainment and activities.

The Heritage Christmas Home Tour will be held from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 10.

For more information on all the Heritage Christmas events or ticket purchases, cal the Greencastle-Antrim Chamber of Commerce at 717-597-4610 or visit www.greencastlepachamber.org.

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